Faith towards salvation

[Darryl_B]

Hey Darryl,

Lately, Ive been more convinced that there are too many issues that us Catholics need to overcome to criticize our non-Catholic friends. Even to the point that many non-Catholics are behaving more Catholic than many Catholics. Think about the issues like sex before marriage, contraception, avoiding the Sacrament of Reconciliation, using the Lords name in vain, excessive drinking, masturbation, fits of anger, neglecting to personally study Sacred Scripture, never openly praying with the family, rarely talking with our children about the life of Jesus, etc.

These things are prevalent amoung many Catholics who receive Communion. It has a huge impact on the life of the Church. It is too necessary to do in-house cleaning before we can expect others to come inside.

Now, I know there is a difference between Church Teaching and what Catholics actual apply to their lives. And I myself converted from the denominations to the Catholic faith. I actually had a very good RCIA instructor and I liked my Parish. But I experienced some better ministries in the Evangelical Free church, such as the youth ministry. But There were things which I did not feel right about either.

What it came down to for me, is that our faith journey does have a very personal aspect to it, while a very corporal aspect also. One man may thrive and walk in holiness as a member of a non-Catholic Christian community MORE than a man receiving all the Sacraments and attending weekly Mass. Yet that first man is not necessarily being the best Christian HE personally can be, since he is avoiding the duties to the body of christ.

Its easy for both sides to criticize, but it takes the Holy Spirit to do the work of the Lord. There is only one Lord and one faith. Catholics need to put walking in the Holy Spirit before puffing the,selves up that they are members of the One True Church. It is nothing important to be a mere member.

We have brothers and sisters in our Church whom we dont care how they are living, or if they really have converted their heart to Jesus, yet when they decide to leave for a Christian community that is giving a stronger witness of Jesus, then we get all riled up. Im not afraid to sound ‘protestant’ when its the Truth. Im more interested in fellowshipping with brothers and sisters in the faith, and being a possitive force against the enemy within the Lord’s Church.

My friend, from what I have just read, you need to influence your diocese, you are a strength of faith.

 

[rcwitness]

My friend, from what I have just read, you need to influence your diocese, you are a strength of faith.

Thank you Darryl,

God willing, He will use me in that big of a way. But the more He uses us, the more we put ourselves aside. That’s the suffering Paul compelled us to and did so well a job of.

Getting our heart right before God is essential to salvation. Knowing Jesus in our hearts, in His mystical body, in His Church Teaching, and in the poor who need help. Its a Challenge that protestants are not familiar with to receive Eucharist with a clear conscience, but its a fearfull thing for Catholics to receive Communion while rejecting Him in their hearts.

 

[Kliska]

I am largely interested in establishing whether there is a difference between the way Catholics view “faith” and how it is efficacious, and the way Protestants view “faith” and how it is efficacious.

I think that many protestants and Catholics are on the same page on faith… of course some are not.

Faith isn’t complex, it is, in the Greek, “trusting with great confidence.” All humans have faith. All humans exercise faith. God created humans with the gift of being able to trust and mistrust. We have a choice of what/who to trust. Faith, on its own, is not efficacious. It takes the correct object of faith (God) and His side of things (grace) to make it efficacious. He enables us (He does not force us) to place our faith on Him, that’s why protestants such as me (non-Calvinists) speak of enabling grace instead of irresistible grace.

Trust, faith, (also translated “belief”) is necessary for salvation but it is not sufficient. Further, our good works flow from trust, as we have to trust God in order to do as He commands, and if we trust Him, we will indeed do as He says.